What's the deal with Elam?

[Billyhouseman]

Dude was a #1 pick.... Can't even get on the active roster.. . Is he bad? Does McDermott like his undrafted UB bulls better? Elam has massive ints in his limited game action, yes he is a little handsy, but we need a physical corner, especially one that's long like him.    I just don't understand what's going on with him

[billieve420]

1 minute ago, Billyhouseman said:

Dude was a #1 pick.... Can't even get on the active roster.. . Is he bad? Does McDermott like his undrafted UB bulls better? Elam has massive ints in his limited game action, yes he is a little handsy, but we need a physical corner, especially one that's long like him.    I just don't understand what's going on with him

Doesn’t play special teams and is behind Benford and Douglas simple as that. Imagine he will get shot at starting next year. Have to believe they will let Douglas walk in FA.

[Dr.Sack]

What’s up with Dorian too? It seems he was doing well? What did he do wrong?

[Freddie's Dead]

23 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

What’s up with Dorian too? It seems he was doing well? What did he do wrong?

 

He's not Matt Milano.  Milano had no business on the field today.

[GunnerBill]

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, billieve420 said:

Doesn’t play special teams and is behind Benford and Douglas simple as that. Imagine he will get shot at starting next year. Have to believe they will let Douglas walk in FA.

 

True that he doesn't see the field as a Boundary CB unless there's an injury to Benford or Douglas as they're better players. But I don't think it's as "simple as that".

 

When Douglas went down today - Ja'Marcus Ingram got the call. And Ingram has consistently taken more snaps than Elam coming off the bench.

 

They don't think much of him as a player. They made an investment in him, has little to no trade value, and on average your Outside CB4 isn't going to be all that great to begin with. So for those reasons they've kept him around. But him not seeing the field is more than just he's not as good as Benford and Douglas.

 

28 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

 

I'm not convinced that Elam is going to Start. He'll be active. But I think Ingram has surpassed him on the Depth Chart. And not just bc he plays Special Teams. He gets more off the bench Defensive snaps as well when they're both active.

Edited December 9 by BillsFanForever19

[Doc Brown]

18 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

You'd think they'd find a way to make Elam active on game day if he's their first option if Douglas or Benford get hurt.  It tells me they don't think the playing gap between Elam and Ingram is that different.

[Ray Stonada]

McDermott has a history of playing "system" guys who understand his complex defense over "take some risks, make some big plays" guys.

 

Elam is the latter. 

 

Unfortunately, top offenses shred the system (because they are good enough to see and exploit the holes), and then you don't have the type of guys who make game changing plays.

 

A perfect example was signing A.J. Klein last year instead of playing Dorian Williams. If Willams had played he might have gotten burned a few times, but he may have made some big plays or stops, which Klein could not do. 

[davefan66]

1 hour ago, Dr.Sack said:

What’s up with Dorian too? It seems he was doing well? What did he do wrong?

Giving Milano as much time as they can to get him ready for the playoffs.  Would have liked to see him spelled a few times yesterday, don’t think he had a great game.

[BigDingus]

He's not good. 

 

Nobody else outside of diehard Bills fans even remember he exists. And the only reason we remember is due to where he was picked in the draft. 

 

It's a bummer, but there's no sugar coating it anymore. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 hours ago, Billyhouseman said:

Dude was a #1 pick.... Can't even get on the active roster.. . Is he bad? Does McDermott like his undrafted UB bulls better? Elam has massive ints in his limited game action, yes he is a little handsy, but we need a physical corner, especially one that's long like him.    I just don't understand what's going on with him

He hasn't locked down a spot over Benford or Douglas and doesn't offer anything on STs. He doesn't have a role. 

[Matt_In_NH]

Multiple dcs have put him in the same position …. Maybe it’s a pick that just did not work out. 

[DJB]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

Unless it’s a reasonable one year deal I don’t want to see Douglas back. I don’t want us to overpay for him to return 

[BananaB]

He’s in McDs doghouse and he ain’t getting out until he’s cut or traded. If traded it will be for nothing

Edited December 9 by BananaB

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

You'd think they'd find a way to make Elam active on game day if he's their first option if Douglas or Benford get hurt.  It tells me they don't think the playing gap between Elam and Ingram is that different.

 

I think that's right. They don't. But their returner being a DB affects gameday active numbers too. Of their backup DBs Elam is the guy who does the least. He just plays boundary corner.

[Xwnyer]

3 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

 

He's not Matt Milano.  Milano had no business on the field today.

Agree Milano is looking slow  maybe way out of football shape but just seems to not having any impact.  Williams not seeing field at all is amazing

Edited December 9 by Xwnyer

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

He’s. Not. Good. Not sure why so many seem to struggle with that assessment. 

[MrEpsYtown]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

 

Douglas has not looked good. Elam scares me, but I would like to see what he can do here at some point. 

[JerseyBills]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

If Douglas is out next week Elam will start. He is just a boundary corner whereas Ingram plays teams, and can play nickel and dime and that is why he gets a jersey on the 47. 

 

I really hope Elam kills it next week. I am over Douglas at this point. But that might be a folorn hope.

Douglas has been really good, don't understand the hate

[Johnnycage46]

6 hours ago, billieve420 said:

Doesn’t play special teams and is behind Benford and Douglas simple as that. Imagine he will get shot at starting next year. Have to believe they will let Douglas walk in FA.

 

The special teams thing is crazy to me. That is most likely correct to say that because he doesn't play special teams he doesn't get activated...but our special teams SUCK. This staff puts way too much emphasis on special teams to have it be a poor unit. They should just get the best/most talented D and O players on the field regardless of special teams.